Surgical gown with moisture-proof conductive grounding means



D. TAMES SURGICAL GOWN WITH MOISTURE-PROOF CONDUCTIVE GROUNDING MEANS Filed Nov. 2, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I :7 i I l i l l- INVENTOR.

Daniel Tames H ATTORNEY Dec. 5, 1961 D. TAMES 3,011,172

SURGICAL GOWN WITH MOISTURE-PROOF CONDUCTIVE GROUNDING MEANS Filed NOV; 2, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 4

FIG. 2

INVENTOR.

BY Daniei Tames ATTORNEY Dec. 5, 1961 SURGICAL GOWN D. TAMES 3,011,172

WITH MOISTURE-PROOF CONDUCTIVE GROUNDING MEANS Filed Nov. 2, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

BY Daniel Tames ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofi ice 3,011,172 SURGICAL GOWN WITH MOISTURE-PROOF CONDUCTIVE GROUNDING MEANS Daniel Tamas, 3500 N. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, Ill. Filed Nov. 2, 1960, Ser. No. 66,728 6 Claims. (11. 2-51) This invention relates to surgeons operating and, more particularly, to a surgeons operating gown incorporating improved moisture repellent means acting also as means for discharging static electricity to ground safely and harmlessly.

Before performing a surgical operation, the surgeon, after thorough sterilization of his hands and arms, is assisted into a sterilized coverall known as a surgical gown. This gown is made to completely cover the surgeon both front and back and is made so as to be completely closed in the back, and is secured on the surgeon by tape ties on the back panels overlapped at the black of the gown. The gown has previously been sterilized, and is designed to protect the surgeons hands and arms, front and back, against any possibility of infection from the surgeon to the patient. To complete his attire, the surgeon then usually dons a pair of sanitized rubber gloves, again with assistance.

For comfort during the operation, it is desirable that the gown be as light in weight as possible. At the same time, however, it is desirable that the gown, or at least the major part of its front panel, be made moisture proof or at least moisture resistant, to protect the surgeon or his clothing against soiling by blood, serums, plasma, and other liquids. Providing liquid proofing in gowns of lightweight material has presented a problem not hither-to solved satisfactorily.

Another problem in the operating room is that of eliminating or safely discharging static electricity. This is a hazard if the electrical potential is allowed to build up to any extent before discharge, as any spark discharge can cause explosive ignition of gases normally present in the operating room. For example, ether and other anesthetics are highly explosive, and the explosion hazard is greatly accentuated by the presence of oxygen.

Some steps have been suggested, and some have been used, in an attempt to reduce if not eliminate the building up of static electricity in the surgical area. However, such attempts have been largely nullified by the conflicting requirements involved in providing protection against liquids and in providing adequate grounding. Thus, the operating table and other equipment can be adequately grounded, but grounding of. personnel, while still protecting personnel against soiling by liquids, has not been hitherto effectively accomplished.

In accordance with the present invention, adequate protection of personnel against soiling by-liquids is provided while providing complete grounding of attire worn by the personnel. This is effected by a novel surgical gown in which a flexible panel of lightweight, moistureproof, and electrically conductive material is secured over the major part of the inner surface of the front panel. This grounding panel is connected, by strips of the same material running lengthwise of the sleeves of the gown, to flexible sleeve inserts of moisture-proof, electrically conductive material within the forearm portions of the sleeves of the gown. Strips of the conductive material extend from the sleeve inserts along the cuffs of the sleeve.

At some point along the sleeves, the electrically conductive material is in contact with the wearers body which is grounded through electrically conductive shoes, grounding strips, or equivalent known means. Thus, not only is the wearer effectively protected against soiling gowns 3,011,172 Patented Dec. 5, 1961 by moisture, but also all parts of the gown are effectively grounded, thus preventing buildup of static electricity.

For an understanding of the invention principles, reference is made to the following description of a typical embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawing. In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is an outside elevation view of a surgeons gown embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an inside elevation view thereof;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are sectional views on the correspondingly numbered lines of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a partial elevation view of the inside of the gown with a sleeve shown turned inside out.

Referring to the drawing, a surgical gown 10 is illustrated as comprising a front panel 15, a pair of side panels 25, 25" and a pair of sleeves 30. The gown may be made of any suitable lightweight material, such as linen, cotton, synthetic fabric, or the like.

Front panel 15 may be made from several pieces suitably seamed together-e to provide a unitary panel, but is preferably cut from a single piece of material. As illustrated, it has a bottom hem 16, and a neck band 17 is stitched to its upper end and to the upper ends of side panels 25, 25'. Panel 15 is stitched to side panels 25, 25 along seams 18 which extend from hem 16 to the lower edges of sleeves 30.

When the gown is donned by the wearer, one side panel 25' completely overlaps the other side panel 25 at the rear of the garment. For this reason, side panel 25 includes two sections 26, 26' each of substantially the same width as side panel 25. Sections 26', 26 are secured together along seam 27. Panels 25, 25' have bottom hems 28, 28 which are continuations of hem 16.

Sleeves 30 are preferably single pieces of material formed into tubes by seams 31. The sleeves have rib knit cuffs 32 for effectively gripping the wearers wrists, and are stitched to the front and side panels along seams 33.

In accordance with the invention, a flexible sheet 20 of lightweight, moisture-proof, electrically conductive material underlies the major part of the upper portion of front panel 15. Sheet 20 is secured to panel .15 by seams 18 and '33, at its side edges, and by upper and lower transverse seams 21 and 22.

Also, flexible tubular, sheet or inserts 35, of the same material as sheet 20, are telescoped within the forearm portions of sleeves 30, being secured to the latter by cuif seams 34 and upper seams 36. In further accord with the invention, sheet 20 is electrically connected to sleeve inserts 35 by narrow, flexible strips 40 extending along the inner surfaces of sleeves 30. Strips 40 are secured to sheet 20 by sleeve seams 33, and to inserts 35 by seams 36. Longitudinal seams 41 secure strips 40 to the upper arm portions of sleeves '30.

Strips 42 extend along the cuffs of the sleeves and are electrically connected to inserts 35.

The material of sheet 20, inserts 35, and strips 40 and 42 may be any suitable electrically conductive and moisture-proof material. For example, it may be very thin sheeting of electrically conductive material or synthetic rubber made electrically conductive by suitable carbon impregnation in a known manner. Other material of equivalent properties may be used.

The gown 10 is provided with the usual tie means, such as collar tapes 11. A fabric strip 12 extends transversely of sheet 20 and side panel 25 and forms a run- Way for a tape 1.3 which extends outwardly through slits 14 at the juncture of panels 15 and 25'. Other tapes 23- are provided in the usual manner and at the usual locations.

The connected elements 20, 35, 40 and 42 provide an effective ground for the garment, as at least some part of 3 elements 35 and 40 will contact the wearers body which, as stated, is grounded. Additionally, sheet 2t and inserts 35 provide adequate moisture protection.

While aspecific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the invention principles, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

l. A surgical gown comprising, in combination, an'essentially unitary front panel of suitable fabric; a pair of side panels secured to said front panel; a pair of sleeves extending from the junctures of said front and side panels; a sheet of electrically conductive moistureproof material underlying and secured to the major part of said front panel; and body contacting electrically conductive grounding means extending from and electrically connected to said sheet.

2. A surgical gown comprising, in combination, an essentially unitary front panel of suitable fabric; a pair of side panels secured to said front panel; a pair of sleeves extending from the junctures of said front and side panels; a sheet of electrically conductive moistureproof material underlying and secured to the major part of said front panel; and tubular inserts of electrically conductive moisture-proof material Within and secured to said sleeves, and electrically connected to said sheet.

3. A surgical gown comprising, in combination, an essentially unitary front panel of suitable fabric; a pair of side panels secured to said front panel; a pair of sleeves extending from the junctures of said front and side panels; a sheet of electrically conductive moistureproof material underlying and secured to the major part of said front panel; tubular inserts of electrically conductive moisture-proof material within and secured to the forearm portions of said sleeves; and strips of electrically conductive material extending along the upper portions ofsaid sleeves and electrically connected to said sheet and to said inserts.

4. A surgical gown comprising, in combination, an msentially unitary front panel of suitable fabric; a pair of side panels secured to said front panel; a pair of sleeves extending from the junctures of said front and side panels; a sheet of electrically conductive moistureproof material underlying and secured to the major part of said front panel; tubular inserts of electricallyconductive moisture-proof material within and secured to the forearm portions of said sleeves; and strips of electrically conductive moisture-proof material extending along the upper portions of said sleeves and electrically connected to said sheet and to said inserts.

.5. A surgical gown comprising, in combination, an essentially unitary front panel of suitable fabric; a pair of side panels secured to said front panel; a pair of sleeves extending from the junctures of said front and side panels and having cufis; a sheet of electrically conductive moisture-proof material underlying and secured to the major part of said front panel; tubular inserts of electrically conductive moisture-proof material within and secured to said sleeves, and electrically connected to said sheet; and strips of electrically conductive moisture: proof material extending along said cuffs and electrically connected to said inserts.

6. A surgical gown comprising, in combination, an essentially unitary front panel of suitable fabric; a pair of side panels secured to said front panel; a pair of sleeves extending from the junctures of said front and side panels; a sheet of electrically conductive moistureproof material underlying and secured to the major part of said front panel; and inserts of electrically conductive moisture-proof material within and secured to the forearm portions of said sleeves, and electrically connected to said sheet.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 318,172 Delany May 19. 1885 2,846,686 Tarnes Aug. 12, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 683,936 Great Britain Dec. .10, 1952 

